Catholic Church. Congregatio de Auxiliis Divinae Gratiae.

In 1597 Clement VIII appointed the Congregatio de Auxiliis Divinae Gratiae to settle the contemporary dispute over the relationship between actual grace and free will. The controversy between the Jesuits and Dominicans had reached a fresh stage when the Jesuit theologian, Luis de Molina, published his Concordia liberi arbitrii cum gratiae donis (1588).

Among others the Dominican theologian, Domingo Banez, attacked Molina's teaching, and the controversy became so heated between the two Orders that Clement VIII brought the matter to Rome. In November 1597 he established the congregation to resolve the differences by examining the theology involved. The congregation reported for the first time on March 19, 1598, recommending that the circulation of Molina's book be forbidden and that 90 propositions from it be condemned. The pope, however, declined to approve the recommendation.

Influences on both sides prevented a calm evaluation of the controversy. After numerous sessions without essential change, the pope decided to convene a new commission and to have the theologians of both Orders debate the issues. These debates began on March 20, 1602, but Clement died on March 4, 1605 without having promulgated a decision.

After the brief pontificate of Leo XI (Apr. 1-24, 1605), Paul V was elected pope (May 16, 1605). He had the debates resumed on September 14, 1605. The last discussion took place on March 1, 1606, ending the series of eighty-five sessions and forty-seven debates. On August 28, 1607, the pope convened the congregation at the Quirinal for the last time. He then declared that the Dominican position was far from Calvinistic, and that the Jesuits in holding their view were not Pelagians. Both orders were commanded to await the final decision of the Holy See; theologians were forbidden to accuse each other of heresy. On September 5, 1607, these decisions were remitted by letter to the generals of the two orders. Paul V judged that, given the situation, a doctrinal decision would be inopportune at that time. No decision on the matter was ever made.

With an edict of the Roman Inquisition of December 1, 1611, Paul V forbade the publication of books on the subject of efficacious grace without the authorization of the Holy See. This decree was confirmed by Urban VIII on 22 May 1625 and again on 1 Aug 1641. The prohibition was renewed by Innocent X (decree 25 Apr 1654) and successively by Innocent XII on 28 Jan and 6 Feb 1694.

To see a general agency history for the Curia Romana, enter "FIN ID VATV214-A"

From the description of Agency history record. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 145571452